The indictment, issued in a Jerusalem court, followed a lengthly investigation into accusations of corruption against Lieberman, known for his uncompromising positions toward the Palestinians and Israel’s Arab population.

It also comes three weeks before general elections and casts a shadow over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior ally.

Originally investigated for more serious charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was indicted in a side case that grew out of the primary investigation.

According to the indictment, Israeli investigators asked the Israeli Embassy in Belarus to ask local authorities for discreet assistance on the investigation into Lieberman’s activities. Israeli Ambassador Zeev Ben-Aryeh passed this information on to Lieberman when the latter, then deputy prime minister, visited Belarus in 2008.

Ben-Aryeh also handed Lieberman a note with the details of the company and bank account the Israel authorities wanted information about, the indictment says.

Lieberman was appointed foreign minister in 2009.

Several months later, Ben-Aryeh, who had finished his term as ambassador in Belarus, sought an appointment as ambassador to Latvia.

The foreign minister refrained from mentioning their ties and actively advanced Ben-Aryeh’s appointment, which fell through when the diplomat’s tip to Lieberman became known.

Ben-Aryeh was suspended from the foreign service and later resigned.

Lieberman resigned from his ministerial post this month when Attorney General. Yehuda Weinstein announced his intent to indict him.

Lieberman had hoped for a quick resolution of his case. For now, Netanyahu holds the foreign ministry post.

If the case goes to trial, Lieberman can remain a member of the parliament but cannot be appointed a Cabinet minister before the trial ends. If convicted of the crime of moral turpitude, he will have to resign from parliament but will be allowed to run in the next elections.

If in addition he is sentenced to three months in jail, he will be barred from running for the Knesset for seven years.

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